Under The Sea Artist Trading Block

Hello all

Remember when i said i had mermaids swimming in my head? No i am not going mad i just had a lot of craft ideas using mermaids at the time. Well i have an artist trading block to share using  the Spirit Of A Mermaid stamp set designed by Susan K Weckesser

https://www.unitystampco.com/spirit-of-a-mermaid/

This started off as a plastic toy pirate chest. I painted it with Prima Rust Paste and once the first layer had dried, i added heavy  gel medium and sprinkled on blue glass sand and added moss. I then added resin shells and other bits in order to make it look like it had been in the water for awhile.

Before i stuck the block  together i gave it a coat of blue acrylic paint and then once it had dried i used a fish scale stencil over the whole thing using DecoArt  modelling  paste and left it to set. Then i used two different  shades of blue acrylic paint over the top,painting each one half way up the front. I finished off by using the green iridescent  paint for added shimmer.

I stamped  out the mermaid and coloured her in before i cut her out.

I made the tail using a silicone  mould and paper clay and left it to air dry. I then painted it green and covered it in Wow embossing  powder before setting it all with a heat gun. I added a cute little mermaid heat on the fin to finish.

The rest of the pieces are covered in rust paste and moss for that undersea look. I love the mermaid pearls as they look like bubbles.

Thank you for visiting

New Beginnings

These words have gone over and over in my head constantly for the last four and a half years as I drove back and forth to doctor appointments, procedures, tests, you name. This last year was particularly hard on me and my wonderful family. I remember last summer coming home from a family reunion which had been trying because we, being the late one to the camp ground, we got the site right beside the outhouses. My sense of smell had become so heighten with all the treatments so I felt so sick the whole time, but I made the best of it. I remember getting home and being so happy to see my own bathroom but as I started to brush my teeth I felt like I was living a nightmare because they started to drop into the sink. Ya, did you ever have one of those nightmares as a kiddo where all your teeth start dropping out... this wasn't a nightmare, it was the beginning of a very long year of putting Humpty Dumpty back together again. A very painful year at that.  I went through many surgeries but because of the discomfort that my body was already going through with the bladder cancer, kidney stones, gall stones, and Crohns , I opted to be put asleep with every surgery. I just couldn't, no....my body couldn't face any more pain. kinda strange. I survived. I'm not quite done. but, I have to say..... Art, Creativity, my Creative Friends, and my deep and STRONG FAITH keep me going. i still have a lot of healing but it feels so good to start feeling stronger and like myself again.

I hit a point that really scared me. 

I WANTED to LIVE.......

But, 

I WAS AFRAID TO LIVE!

So I met with a really cool doctor who is also a guru and he has helped me and is helping me see that it is ok to live. To enjoy every moment...even if those moments aren't so good sometimes. Its ok to be afraid, or happy, sad ,or even mad sometimes. My family has really helped to....especially now that I have opened up to them and let them know how i really feel or am feeling. That was so hard at first, but all so liberating for everyone! 

Those smiles and that love from my family.

They just give me warm fuzzies!

  And Happy Music!

 And Good Food!

And of course the silliness that i really thrive on!

...and thanks to wonderful friends! I love you all so much. I just just got this beautiful card from Carol. i love her artwork and popsicles!!!! 

I am a SURVIVOR!!!

And this is just the beginning of me embracing my life again. I have been told that i will never be in remission...but WHO CARES!?!! The sun is shining! There are rainbows to be found. 

We got this! Right!?!

Come and join me, my Creative Adventurers!

Luv ya Lots!

BIG{hugs},

Susan xo

Festive Jars with Snow Way Stamp Set

Hello crafty friends

The theme for this month over on the Susan K Weckesser team blog is Craft some Love. The idea is to create a home made gift to give out to someone even a stranger. Just spread the love.

I altered these jars i bought from Poundland and used the DecoArt Chalky Finish Glass Paint to alter the colour. It will take two coats and a day to fully dry before you seal it. I put the lid on a bit too early and took off a layer of paint.

I used Susan's Snow way stamp set to create these cute watercolor tags.

I decorated the jars with anything that sparkled including tinsel trims and gems. I used a hot glue gun to hold everything in place.

For this one i glued pearl beading around the base and used blue gems for a more icy look.

I used big red flat back pearls for berries

I used the Clearsnap Color Pop Mini inks to color the tags and mixed Fresh with Night to get a darker green. I mixed the two blues together to get a lighter shade.

Thank you for visiting

Love Ya Whole Bunches tag with Color Pop Mini Inks

Hi all

 I have a tag to share made using the Clearsnap Color Pop Mini inks.

I created the background by Mixing Sky and Night inks together and adding water so i could paint them onto the tag. Once dry i then applied gesso to the tag with a stencil.

I used the Love Ya Whole Bunches Stamp set ans used the color pop mini inks to color in the girl. I mixed the Snow and Kiss inks together to make a pink color, 

I took the MDF shape and painted gesso over it and then used a sponge to apply the Fresh Ink over it. I varied the strength of the color to create a faded effect.

I then use the A Little Bit Washi stamp set with Night and Fresh ink and stamped onto white tissue paper before layering them over each other like a collage.

My Little Boxes Full Of Happy - By Lynne Mizera

Hello and Happy Halloween everyone!  Today for my second mixed media project for the Creative Team I thought I would share this little idea that has been germinating in my brain for about two years now ... I am calling these My Little Boxes of Happy!

The size of an old-fashioned match box, the outside is already delightful... but when you slide back the cover a complete three-dimensional scene is revealed that just makes you smile... hence My Little Boxes of Happy

I used the Tim Holtz Matchbox die; Sizzix BigzL #659447 and Susan Weckesser's lovely paper to create my matchboxes.  Susan's paper worked like a dream because it is so much heavier than regular card stock.

The Susan K. Weckesser/Unity Stamp sets I used are the perfect size for creating these tiny 1.75"x2.25" diorama's which, when coloured in and covered in Ranger's Stickles and Close To My Heart's Liquid Glass, look like wee jewels.  A delightful little surprise and so gift-worthy, don't you think?

So thank you for stopping by today to share in this little bit of happy and if you are interested in how these were made you can pop on over to my blog to see all the steps in my process...

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Lynne Mizera

for the Susan Weckesser Creative Team

Susan K. Wecckesser/Unity Stamp Sets Used:
Going Wild
Journal Doodles With A Heart
Granma's Needlepoint
In Circle Me
Create Your Day
Other Susan K. Weckesser Products Used:
Live In Colour Paper Line
ColorBox Mini Pop Inks
 

Believe In Yourself Art Journal

Hello all

I am back with another mixed media journal page for the Susan K Weckesser team. The theme on the blog this month is mixed media and one of my favorite themes. 

I started off by applying modeling paste around the page using a stencil and then i spritzed DecoArt Media Misters on top. I spritzed water over to dilute the colors.

Next i added more colors using acrylic paint which i painted on in blocks of color. I then used the In Circle Me stamp to add a textured layer to the background. I used a stencil with black modeling paste for the quote and writing. I let it all dry and then added another layer of stencils.

I used the A Little Grunge Love stamp set and used the Clearsnap Color Pop Mini inks to color them with. I glued them down and once dry i went over the top with a stencil to create a textured effect.

I used the A Little Bit Washi stamps and stamped them on to tissue paper. I learned this trick of Susan and this way you can position the images before gluing them down.

Thank you for visiting 

Fun Fall Card

I am Brooke Bock from the Susan K. Weckesser Design team and I am thrilled to join you here today.  I love Susan's Stamp designs because they are so whimsical.  I especially love this little Gnome from her What's Up Gnomey? stamp set.  He seemed just the perfect little character to peek in to this fall card.

Let's gather supplies:

What's Up Gnomey? stamp set

ColorBox Color Pop Archival Dye Ink by Susan K. Weckesser

Card Stock Scraps

Vintage Buttons

Glue Stick

Glue Gun/Glue Sticks

Acrylic Block

Let's get started...

Cut and fold card.

Cut out leaves and ink edges.

Stamp gnome on card stock.

Layer and adhere leaves, gnome and background for gnome to the card.

Use glue gun to adhere buttons.

I think he makes the perfect little fall friend.  What do you think?

Brooke Bock Susan K. Weckesser Design Team 2016

Woodland Scene in a Tin!

As our theme for this month is mixed media I thought I'd do a bit of upcycling and make an assemblage piece. This little critter's den started out life as a sardine tin (I know, yuk - but the dog likes them!). I love autumn colours and foxy fit right in with this colour scheme.

Here's how I made it:

Paint the tin with gesso and then raw umber paint - you may need a couple of coats.

Make a leaf print background by brayering paint onto a leaf and pressing it onto cardstock.

Seal a dry leaf with varnish then give it a shimmer with Treasure Gold or other gilding wax.

Edge the background with brown ink.

Spray some cheesecloth with ink to dye it.

When dry adhere to the box with gel medium.

Colour and cut out the fox. Arrange the bits and bobs into the box securing with strong glue (I'd recommend a gel or silicone glue). The little foot is two draughts game pieces stuck together.

Hope you enjoyed my tut today. Bye for now!

Katy x

I used Susan's adorable Going Wild stamp set from Unity for this make.